Search form

How do you explain Stanford’s Wacky Walk?

Trying to explain Stanford’s Wacky Walk, an annual Commencement tradition, to someone who has never seen it is quite a challenge. So, Stanford Report dug into its photography archives for the past several years to try instead to illustrate the highly irreverent, often silly, generally entertaining and occasionally touching first few minutes of the graduation ceremony.

A contingent of “Over the Hill” students leads the Wacky Walk procession at the Stanford 2015 Commencement ceremony.Image credit: L.A. CiceroGSB students cheer classmate Michael Rothkopf as he slides into the 2016 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents parade around the 124th Commencement with their baby photos.Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents dressed as characters from Winnie the Pooh hold a sign that says, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard,” during the 2016 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroJack Conte and his fellow graduating SImps, Stanford’s improvisation troupe, staged a slow-motion samurai game during the Wacky Walk at the 2006 Commencement ceremony.Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents prep outside Columbae residence for their 2013 graduation Wacky Walk dressed as bananas. Image credit: Ian TerpinZoë White, Haley Ketterer and Isabelle Woodrow with friends dress as In-N-Out Burger staff for the 2016 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroA LeBron James cutout looms over students dressed as human-sized sock puppets (we think) during the 2013 Wacky Walk.Image credit: Aaron KehoeStudents from the Aeronautics & Astronautics Department doff their space helmets at the 2016 Commencement.Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents dressed as hippie protesters for Stanford’s 120th Commencement ceremony. Image credit: L.A. CiceroTwo graduating Star Wars fans chart a casual flight path to the 2013 Wacky Walk in their X-wing fighters.Image credit: Aaron KehoeIt’s always good to bring a wingman when participating in the Wacky Walk. This is from Commencement 2015.Image credit: L.A. CiceroWilliam Tucker, dressed as an astronaut, is set to begin the Wacky Walk with friends who will navigate the Space Shuttle to the 122nd Commencement. Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents showed up to the 2016 Commencement in the catbus from the 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro.Image credit: L.A. CiceroStudents dressed as Vikings sail into the 2015 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroGraduates run under a parachute decorated with their names and handprints during the 2013 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroKevin Moy and Guanlin Chen hoist giant 3D models of their own faces before the 2015 Wacky Walk.Image credit: L.A. CiceroDuring the Wacky Walk a group of coterm students brought together signs to form a giant QR code that linked to their pictures and personal messages at http://stanford.edu/~aduchi/graduation.html. This is from the 121st Commencement Ceremony at Stanford University. Image credit: L.A. Cicero

Stanford Vice Provost and Dean of Research Kathryn Moler wants all research resources to be as readily available as books in a library. This model would enable faculty and students to pursue the most innovative research in flexible, collaborative teams.